Portuguese exports to China surged 20% last year, totaling about EUR 222 million, up from EUR 37.93 million in the previous year, sources reported.

Currently, China is the 16th largest market for Portugal, compared with a 33rd place ten years ago. In the past ten years, Portuguese exports to China surged more than 400%.

Half of the exports to China are marble, chemical industry products, machinery and electrical apparatus, cork, copper and cellulose pulp.

Portuguese imports from China declined about 16.9% year on year in 2008, totaling EUR 1.12 billion, according to calculations by the Portuguese export promotion agency, AICEP.